“That would be very helpful. I can at least cross-check it with any missing-persons reports in the area.”
Baxter said, “We brought a copy in the car.”
Val raised her hand. “I wear the gloves because I have a form of psychic power called psychometry. I can pick up energy, impressions, sometimes memories from objects.”
Drew perked up. “Objects?”
“Yeah,” Sully said. “So let’s say, as fellow law enforcement professionals, you had a case that was stalled and you had some evidence that just wasn’t panning out for more leads…”
Drew folded his hands. “You want to examine the truck we found parked at Baker’s Creek.”
“Yes,” Megan said. “That’s what all this was for. We’ve been investigating the vine theft. You’ve been investigating the blood. We need to share information, and Val needs to get her hands on that truck.”
Drew looked around the assembled guests. Psychics, friends of psychics, relatives of psychics, psychics in utero. Possibly.
Megan cleared her throat. “You’re not going to tell anyone about this, are you?”
“You mean, am I going to tell my colleagues or friends or wife that I know four women with psychic powers who help me solve crimes?” He shook his head. “Yeah, that’s a no.”
“But are you going to let us look at the truck anyway?” Megan asked.
Drew looked around the porch, then back at Megan. “That is a yes.”
Chapter 19
Since Nico had driven Megan down to Toni’s before dinner, he drove her back up the hill to her car when dinner was finally over. It was well past eleven o’clock by the time everything had been sorted out and plans were made. Wine and good food had made the process easier, but it had also lulled Megan into a happy food coma in Nico’s truck.
“So Drew’s going to let Val look at the truck tomorrow?” Nico asked. “I wonder if it’ll be as easy as it was at the greenhouse.”
“Maybe easier.” Megan’s eyes were drooping. “Val was saying that the stronger the emotions around an object are, the more she can see. So things like a stolen vehicle might not normally carry a lot of memories, but when someone is shot in the truck, it’s bound to leave a psychic mark. Make sense?”
“I mean, as much as any of this makes sense.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Don’t fall asleep.”
She yawned big. “I think I was so stressed about telling Drew that I wore myself out.”
“I know it’s only about ten miles to your house, but you’re driving through the hills. You want to stay at my place tonight?”
She looked at him from the side. “Is this your idea of—”
“Guest room,” he said. “I have a guest room.”
Was a little part of her disappointed? Maybe.
Hell yes!
Down, Sugar.
“I’m just saying, it’s safer for you to stay here than drive when you’re sleepy. Head home first thing in the morning to get freshened up and all that. The kids are home, so it’s not like we won’t have chaperones.” His grin should have been illegal.
“I’ll call Trina.” She texted her daughter instead.
I’m beat and maybe a little woozy from dinner at Toni’s. Are y’all cool if I stay at the vineyard tonight?
She didn’t need to tell Trina that she was staying at Nico’s and not Toni’s. Vineyard was vague enough.
Trina texted back in minutes. Are you cuddlin’ with your hot boss?
Get your mind out of the gutter, young lady.
That is not a yes or no. There was a kissing emoji. Have fun. We’re fine.
I’ll see you first thing in the morning.
Make good choices. Another kissing emoji.
Good night!
She turned off her phone. “The guest room is probably a good idea.”
No, Sugar yelled at her. Bad idea!
“Okay.”
He pulled past the parking lot of the offices and nearly passed Megan’s car before she put a hand on his arm and halted him.
“Wait! Let me get something from my car.” She hopped out of the truck and opened her trunk to grab the small bag she kept packed in case of emergencies. It was just a little larger than a tote bag and held everything she needed. Hairbrush, clean underthings, deodorant. The basics.
“What is that?” Nico asked, rubbing his eyes. “Do you carry an overnight bag in your trunk all the time?”
“You don’t?” She looked into his back seat. “I just assumed with all the junk back here, you’d have a clean shirt and socks or something.”
“Is this something all Southern women do? Is this a cultural thing? Or am I way late to the party because clearly I should have asked you to spend the night weeks ago?”
“Late to the…?” She huffed. “I keep an overnight bag in the car with a clean shirt, panties, and other essentials. I always have. When the kids were little, I kept a damn suitcase back there because God only knew when they were going to completely ruin their clothes and need a new set.”
He shifted in his seat and his jaw was clenched. “Okay.”
“It’s not that big a deal.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What?”
He pulled into the driveway but left his truck parked outside the garage. He put it in park and switched off the vehicle, leaving them in the dark. Nico turned to her, put his arm across the back of the bench seat, and leaned closer.
“Okay,” he said under his breath. “Clearly I have all the self-control of a fucking high schooler, but there is something about your voice in your accent saying panties that just…” He slid his hand along her jaw, cupped her cheek in his palm, and drew her lips to his in a smooth kiss.
Nico started out slow, and Megan kept waiting for the man’s patience to snap and the kiss to accelerate, but whatever self-control he’d been complaining about losing must have returned because he kept teasing her mouth.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Devastating.
Megan wanted to claw at his clothes and climb into his lap, but he did not stop his relentless seduction. He kept kissing her, teasing her mouth with nothing more than his lips and tongue while her body slowly melted into a puddle of need.
“Nico?”
“Mm-hmm.” He moved from her mouth to her neck, and oh my, did he enjoy her neck. The sensitive skin was covered with nips and kisses as he wrapped both his arms around her body and pulled her closer.
“Guest room was a bad idea.”
“What?” He pulled back.
Her mouth was swollen, and she knew her lips were red and wanton. “Your room would be better.”
His breath hitched. “I lied.”
Megan blinked. “What?”
“The kids are at their mom’s tonight. I didn’t want to freak you out or make you think I expected anything if you stayed over. I still don’t, but if you want to—”
“I want to.”
“Oh, thank fuck.” He pushed the truck door open, slid out, and was at her door faster than she could say Down, Sugar! Nico slung her bag over his shoulder and helped her out of the truck, letting his hand land on her ass as soon as she was walking next to him.